Virginia Beach is a city people fall in love with, and with good reason. Twenty-eight miles of beautiful public beach is grounds enough for many to want to live there. There is a casual lifestyle that comes from being right on the ocean. Despite the fact that it's the fastest growing city in the state, it's 310 square miles means there's plenty of room to grow.

Tourism is a vital part of Virginia Beach's vibrant economy and accounts for more than $490 million annually. The military has a positive presence and includes the Naval Air Station, Oceana, The Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Fort Story is an Army base and Dam Neck is a Fleet Combat Training Center.

Norfolk is a city whose downtown rivals almost any metropolitan area in the country. Modern office buildings with their mirrored-glass surfaces do more than reflect the sun of this growing southern city: They reflect the history that shaped Norfolk into what it is today.

Destroyed in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Norfolk has grown into the hub of metropolitan Hampton Roads and the financial center of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Norfolk is home to the world's largest concentration of permanent naval installations. It's no wonder many call this "The Pentagon by The Sea".

When you look beyond, you'll discover quiet neighborhoods, many dotted with historic old homes that also reflect Norfolk's colorful past. One particularly quaint neighborhood is Ghent with its little specialty shops, fashionable restaurants, and a gentle quality that lends the city an air of sophistication and charm.

As a city, Chesapeake has come a long way. It wasn't long ago that the 13th largest city, in terms of land mass in the United States, was a place where city folks went on a lazy Sunday afternoon to see the country.

Things have changed. Now the Wall Street Journal calls Chesapeake one of the nation's top 10 boom towns and City & State magazine labels it as one of the top 50 up and coming cities in the country. It is no wonder Chesapeake is attracting people from across the country. And most of them, more than 63%, are married couples.

The school system is just one reason Chesapeake attracts employers and businesses from around the world. Companies from more than 15 nations are flourishing in Chesapeake's stable economy that balances a blend of services, agricultural and industry. Bolstering the city's aggressive labor force are well-trained military people who have found a home in the area and choose to stay after retiring. Chesapeake is a workplace with low unemployment and competitive wages.

Suffolk has the largest land mass of all the Hampton Roads cities and is the largest city in the state. With a population of less than 55,000 it means there's a lot of "elbow room" in Suffolk.

Families like Suffolk because it has so much room and it easily offers a modern country lifestyle. Besides it's open fields, Suffolk has pine and hardwood forests and over 8,000 acres of lakes for some the state's best freshwater fishing. Despite the country feel to living, Suffolk's economy is diverse. This is due in part to a regional workforce second only to Silicon Valley's in it's number of scientists and engineers. This is because Suffolk is home to the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center which forecasts mass transit needs for the next century. The US Atlantic Command Joint Training, Analysis and Simulation Center is also in Suffolk.

While peanut farming is the city's primary cash crop, Obici Hospital is the single largest employer. Obici's commitment to community health services, support services and educational classes is second to none in the area.

The legacy of Portsmouth is a rich one. From it's earliest days as a vital seaport to its quaint neighborhoods of today, Portsmouth is an attractive place to live.

The city's colorful history blends comfortably with a relaxed lifestyle. Folks enjoy the charm of the 19th century revitalized Old Towne district with its concentration of antique houses as well as the Churchland area's newer homes.

Over its nearly 375-year history Portsmouth has contributed to seafaring commerce by building and repairing ships. While the oldest continuously operated shipyard in the world, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, is in Portsmouth, so are sophisticated high-tech industries that are just a few years old.

There are many things to do to relax in Portsmouth. The Portsmouth Children's Museum is really for the entire family. The museum's planetarium is one of the best of its type in the country, and with a breathtaking laser show, attracts people from all over the region. The Portsmouth Lightship Museum really is an old lightship and portrays how these important ships guided other vessels into port.